What is a Dental Emergency?

When it comes to health-related matters, some people have a general tendency to simply take things in stride. Other folks, however, tend to blow even the smallest of injuries out of proportion and work themselves into a panic every time something goes the slightest bit wrong. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems like few people out there have managed to grasp the notion of the happy medium on the medical emergency front. After all, there’s no sense in getting overly anxious about a problem that is truly minor, but it’s also not good to minimize the severity of a situation that might actually warrant immediate attention.

One area that people don’t seem to have a good grasp on is that of dental predicaments. For some, the slightest of toothaches is enough to send them running to the nearby dental office. On the other hand, there are those who fail to recognize a dental emergency when they come across one. Dr. Joseph Pizzarello is a dentist at Pizzarello and Silvestro Family Dentistry, a Stoneham, Massachusetts practice that offers everything from tooth repair to orthodontics, and according to him, the following are a few dental issues that should never be ignored:

A big abscess
The presence of a sudden abscess that is distorting your face and making it swollen is the type of dental issue that shouldn’t be ignored. This type of situation can cause a host of problems, from breathing issues to life-threatening infections. If you notice an abscess that only seems to be getting worse by the minute, then go see your dentist right away.

Any kind of facial trauma
If you’re injured in the facial area, then you’ll need to have your mouth evaluated by a dentist as soon as possible. While you might not realize this at first, facial trauma can actually cause teeth to become loose and less stable. To avoid problems down the line, get checked out by a dentist immediately.

A broken tooth
In the grand scheme of dental problems, a broken tooth is one of those things that you just plain don’t want to ignore. By neglecting the problem instead of treating it like the emergency it is, you could end up causing yourself to have to undergo root canal therapy or tooth extraction – procedures that can be complicated and costly.

A lost filling
Many people don’t realize that when a filling falls out, decay is underneath the affected area of the tooth. Although a lost filling might not seem like an emergency at first, consider the fact that if you wait too long, the nerve of the tooth can get infected, which could cause you to lose the tooth in its entirety. To avoid this problem, call the dentist once you become aware that one of your fillings is gone.

Although it’s not always easy to take time off from life to tend to an emergency dental issue, by ignoring a major problem, you could end up putting your mouth – and your life – in jeopardy. But, by going to the dentist right away, you can end up saving yourself a fair amount of money and aggravation by nipping your issue in the bud before it gets worse. Remember, although the idea of missing work or canceling plans might not sit well with you, by neglecting a matter that is truly an emergency, you could end up causing yourself an undue amount of hardship. And while the idea of paying for emergency dental treatment might easily throw you for a loop, try to remind yourself that your health is just one of those things that cannot be quantified financially.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.